Newsletter Volume 11, Issue 1 March 2026

Mark Albert Zarco

President, Philippine Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering
Director, International Press-in Association

The University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD), through the i-conNECt program National Engineering Center, organized the 1^st Joint Workshop of the Philippine Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (PSSMGE), the Chinese Taipei Geotechnical Society (CTGS), and the Korean Geotechnical Society (KGS) on 30 January 2026. The workshop was offered as a public seminar for free in partnership with the three member societies of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE).  
 
The workshop was held at the David M. Consuji Theater of the UPD Institute of Civil Engineering was attended by over 150 participants and brought together 15 experts and researchers from the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and South Korea to give lectures on the theme “Geotechnical Engineering for a Resilient and Sustainable Future: tackling Multi-hazard Risk amidst a Changing Climate”. Also in attendance were ISSMGE Vice-President for Asia, Dr. Ken-Jian Shou, and Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov, President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society. The workshop followed the holding of the 22^nd Southeast Asian Geotechnical Conference (SEAGC) and 5^th Association of Geotechnical Societies in Southeast Asia (AGSSEA) Conference, which was held at the Shangri-La the Fort Hotel, Manila, Philippines.
 
Following the workshop, a dinner was hosted by Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, the President of the University of the Philippines, and was attended by university officials and faculty members of the Institute of Civil Engineering.
 
The i-conNECt series of seminars/webinars aims to disseminate information and provide a venue for discussion among the industry, academe and the government on important issues affecting the nation. It aims to spread awareness about relevant topics in engineering and how they affect the lives of ordinary people.
 

Photo 1 From L-R Prof. Jong-Sub Lee, KGS Vice President, Prof. Meng-Chia Weng, CTGS President, Prof. Askar Zhussupbekov, President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society, ISSMGE Vice-President for Asia Dr. Ken-Jian Shou, Prof. Mark Albert Zarco, PSSMGE President, and Prof. Young Sam Kim, KGS Vice President

 

Photo 2 Reception dinner at the Executive House hosted by Atty. Angelo A. Jimenez, President of the University of the Philippines and attended by officials from PSSMGE, CTGS, KGS, Kazakhstan Geotechnical Society, and university officials